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Nano

Nano

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Have BIG fun thinking small!

Nano is an interactive exhibit that engages family audiences in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. Hands-on exhibits present the basics of nanoscience and engineering, introduce real-world applications, and explore the societal and ethical implications of this growing technology.

Welcome to the world of nanotechnology and the ultra small.

Think of the smallest thing you can make. A tiny paper airplane? A little knot in a string? Now think of making something millions of times smaller. That’s what nanotechnology is about. Nanotechnology is used by engineers and scientists, and it's also used in the fabric of your jeans, the fur on your teddy bear, and the smartphones in your pocket!

Search for real nano products and phenomena. Zoom in and see what your favorite everyday objects look like magnified. Find out how tall you are in nanometers and compare your size to what you see under the microscope. Play with smaller and smaller magnetic materials and watch how they act!

Nature also has its own versions of nanotechnology. Discover how geckos stick to walls and how gravity affects tiny objects. See how a butterfly can produce a beautiful color on its wings without pigments using natural nanotechnology. Build a super-size carbon nanotube that’s bigger than you, and imagine that it really is millions of times smaller!

Learn about people who work in the field and how they got interested in the tiniest structures that humans can’t even see.

Explore how nanotechnology and nano experiments can affect our future. What kinds of new technologies are being created to make stickier tape? Water resistant clothes? Better medicines? Place balance blocks on a tipping table which symbolizes how to balance a stable nano future.